28. In the bleak midwinter

1 In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone:
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk,
And a mangerful of hay:
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

4 Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

5 What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him
Give my heart.

Text Information
First Line: In the bleak midwinter
Author: Christina Rossetti, 1830-94
Meter: Irregular
Language: English
Publication Date: 1986
Topic: The Christian Year: Christmas
Tune Information
Name: CRANHAM
Composer: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934
Meter: Irregular
Key: F MAjor



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